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Many of my users have their files on one big WebDAV server.

PROBLEM: They can not use their files while not connected to the Internet.

QUESTION: Is there a Dropbox-like software for WebDAV?

  • When connected, pushes local changes to the server
  • When connected, polls the server every n minutes to pull changes
  • Cross-platform (Linux, Mac, Windows, maybe Android?)
  • Ability to check out only a part of the repository
  • Preferably open source
  • Dropbox-like UI is perfect but other UI concepts are welcome too

For instance, SparkleShare is like DropBox for Git. Unfortunately they are not into WebDAV.

Just to make it clear: I am not looking for an online service that provides WebDAV access, but for a client-side software that can synchronize local files with a WebDAV URL (wherever hosted) when connected to the Internet.

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71% accept rate
This seems too hard. On most OSs you can mount a webdav share as a folder. Could you just do that and use a standard syncing tool to sync it with a local folder when available? – Paul Dec 8 '11 at 22:51
Too hard? Git has it, so I bet someone has implemented it for WebDAV (simpler and more widespread). Your solution is an option, feel free to propose it as an answer. – Nicolas Raoul Dec 9 '11 at 1:57
I'll leave it for now, the question will get more attention if it has no answers. – Paul Dec 9 '11 at 2:17
Too bad there doesn't seem to be any solution as of now. Have been looking into this myself. – Dexter Jan 5 at 5:04
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Unfortunately, SparkleShare does not provide a Windows client (yet). – Mike L. Feb 2 at 17:56
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4 Answers

up vote 1 down vote

Here's couple of non-perfect solutions.

First

Depending on the nature of files, number of changes etc. you might be able to hack it with Subversion backend (apache+mod_svn). Subversion http transport conforms to webdav so you can use it as a webdav share.

What I have setup for non svn aware clients is webdav on svn with autocommit (this is your android). With windows, lixnu and mac you should make a checkout and some changes tracking automation over it. I've done some in the past and there are examples on the net.

This is not perfect and combining autoversioning with real svn clients can cause problems. Also the svn repository will grow.

Here's a copy of one of the autoversioning part of apache confs.

 <Location /svnauto/>

    DAV svn
    SVNListParentPath on
    SVNParentPath /data/svn-autoversioning
#     ModMimeUsePathInfo on 
    SVNAutoversioning On
    SetOutputFilter DEFLATE

    AuthBasicProvider external
    AuthzExternalAuthoritative off

    AuthzSVNAccessFile /etc/samba/map-files/svn/dav_svn.authz

    # Limit write permission to list of valid users.
    <Limit GET PROPFIND OPTIONS REPORT POST PUT DELETE PROPPATCH MKCOL COPY MOVE LOCK UNLOCK>
        Order allow,deny
        Allow from 127.0.0.1 10.11.0.1 10.0.10.92 192.168.122.92
        Satisfy Any

        AuthType Basic
        AuthExternal ldap_auth
        AuthName "Authorization Realm"
        require valid-user
    </Limit>
 </Location>

Second

This other is tricky because I don't know any FUSE implementations for windows (see Windows fuse). But there are couple of fuse layers that will give you offline files with almost any mount point on your system (offlinefs). I cannot remember the other one and I have yet to test stability of these layers.

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+1 for offlinefs, sounds great even though it can't be used for Windows clients. About the server configuration part: My question is about clients, I want to be able to connect to any WebDAV server, whatever its configuration. Thanks! – Nicolas Raoul Apr 25 at 7:07
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up vote 1 down vote

I have been looking for a while, but I didn't find anything like dropbox: Several projects I took a look:

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I had a look at Re last year, could be nice but not user-friendly right now. Syncany looks perfect, I will try it! – Nicolas Raoul Feb 2 at 15:37
I just tried Syncany. It is nearly perfect but unfortunately it stores files as big chunk files on the server. The file hierarchy are very different on local side and server side (for efficiency and encryption reasons it seems). So it can not be used to access existing files in the company's WebDAV folder :-( – Nicolas Raoul Feb 3 at 3:11
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up vote 0 down vote

This might be able to help: http://dropdav.com/ This is specifically made for using Dropbox via WebDA

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My stated problem is "They can not use their files while not connected to the Internet". Dropdav is nice but it does not help when not connected to the Internet. – Nicolas Raoul Feb 3 at 2:40
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up vote 0 down vote

Try Strato's HiDrive:

Sharing content the easy way: HiDrive uses cloud technology to allow you contact with your favorite files from any computer or smartphone. You can be anywhere in the world and still have access to your photos, music and documents. And the best bit is - HiDrive is free!

Not too familiar with it, but you can mount cloud storage via WebDav. Not sure if this will allow you to do what you want, but it may get you part of the way there.

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My stated problem is "They can not use their files while not connected to the Internet". If I understand well, HiDrive does not work offline, so it does not help here. – Nicolas Raoul Feb 3 at 2:43
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